Windmill



May 26, 1931.

F. J. HALLER WINDMILL Filed Feb. 6. 1929 Patented May 26, 1931 STATES PATENT oFFms FRANK J'. HALLER, 0F FBEEEORT, IZLINOES, ASSIGNOR'TO STOVER IEANUFACTURING J ENGINE (30., (3F FRET'PGR'I, ILLINGIS, A CORPOEATIGN OF ILLINOIS WINDMILL Application filed February 6, 1929. Serial N'o. 33?,740.

This invention relates to windmills and has particular reference to improvements in the design and construction of. the mill head.

Mill heads, owing to the fact that they are located so higl'i in the air wnere they are not accessible for frequent inspection, are Very apt to be neglected and allowed to operate with insufficient lubricant until some of the working parts become worn to such an extent that the mill operates with entirely too much noise for the trouble to be further. overlooked. Then, despite the fact that it is a more or less dangerous task to climb the tower, the head has to be taken apart for replacement or repair of the worn out parts and replenishment of the lubricant. Where the head was constructed without special regard to facilitating the disassembling and assembling, it was noted all uncommon for one to have to spenda day or so on the tower fixing the mill. It is, therefore, the principal object of my invention to provide a mill head. especialy designed and constructed with a view to facilitating disassembling of the working parts for replacement or repair, to the end that an attendant ordinarily acquainted with the mill can remove the worn parts and replace them in a few minutes without any difficulty whatever.

According to my invention, a top plate is provided removably mounted on the head. covering a hand hole, and this top plate'surmounts and holds the guide rods on which the cross-head is arranged to operate. The removal of the top plate, which in itself is a simple matter, makes ita simple proposition thereafter to remove the cross-head as well as other parts apt to show signs of wear; it

is not necessary to dismantle the whole head and remove the vane and wind wheel. Disconnection of the cross-head and other parts is made possible by providing the frame supporting the top plate of skeleton construcrods when the topplate is fastened to the frame in the manner specified. Thus, the smooth and efiicient operation of the mill is not at all sacrificed for the advantage of quick and easy assembling and disassembling.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side view of a mill head embodying my invention, the same having the in the direction of the arrows, the cross-head and the guide rods being shown in side elevation.

- The same reference numerals areapplied to corresponding parts throughout the views. The mill head 4 is preferably made in a single casting with an integral extension 5 toward the wheelfi. The head provides a place thereon for an oil well to take care of the lubrication of all of the working parts,

there being drain plug (not shown), the removal of which permits drainage of the head when a fresh supply of oil is to be poured therein. A sheet metal jacket 7,

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, serves to enclose the working parts to keep the oil in the head free from dirt and water. A hub 8, formed integral with the bottom of the head, is arranged to rest on a ball-bearing turn table 9 on top of the tower 10, only the upper end of which is shown. A platform is provided on the tower sufficiently close to the head 4 to permit an attendant standing on the platform to work on the head whenever it requires inspection or repair, or when the oil therein is to be renewed. A chain 11 is extended upwardly through a easing into the head and threaded over a pulley 12 for connection in the usual way with the vane'13 pivotally mounted on the head, as shown at 14, and equipped with the usual governor spring 15.

The wind wheel 6 is mounted on a shaft 16 extended thereto from the head 4 through the extension 5. Pinions mounted on the inner end of the shaft in the head 4 mesh with the gears 17 to transmit the drive to the cross-head 18 to which the upper end of the plunger rod 19 is detachably secured as by means of a nut 20 (see Fig. A pair of pitman rods 21 provide driving connections between crank pins on the gears 17 and a wrist pin 22 on the cross-head. The crosshead has its vertical bearings 23 slidably re ceived on guides 24 and 25. The latter is simply a solid rod received in a socket provided therefor in the head, but the former is a tube constituting the cylinder of an oil pump for pumping oil from the head to the top of the cross-head as covered, for example, in Bennethum Patent No. 1,669,319. A plunger 26 is reciprocable in the tubular guide 24 as a cylinder and has a cross-pin 27 in the upper end thereof extending through a slot 28 provided in the guide 24 whereby to cause the plunger to be raised by the crosshead 18 when the latter engages tne pin on the upstroke thereof. A coiled compression spring 29 is provided in accordance with my invention fitting about the upper end of the tubular guide 24 and acts against the pin 27 tending normally to move the plunger 26 downwardly, so that the plunger does not have to rely upon gravity to bring it back to its lowermost position, as was otherwise the case. Thus, the upstroke of the plunger for discharge of oil is produced by the cross-head against the action of the spring, and the spring serves to return the plunger on its intake stroke. Thus, oil is normally supplied to the trough 30 on top of the cross-head for the lubrication of the wrist pin 22, bearings 23 and guides 24 and 25, the oil being free to work into the bearings 23 directly from the trough 30 and into the bearing for the wrist pin 22 through the oil hole 31 leading thereto from the trough. However, owing to evaporation, seepage, drippage, contamination by dirt and water, and various other causes, some of which it is practically impossible to avoid or guard against entirely, but usually due to pure neglect and a disinclination to climb the tower to inspect the mill to make sure of proper lubrication, there are always bound to be instances where the working parts, through insufficient lubrication or no lubrication at all, will become worn out and require replacement or repair. The worn out condition of the working parts is evidenced by unusual clatter and noise in the operation of the mill. The tower then has to be climbed and the head taken apart to get at the working parts for replacement or repair. Owing to the fact that one is working at a great disadvantage so high in the air,

not to mention the hazards involved, the advantage in having a mill, the head of whirl can be taken apart quickly and easily and put together with the same ease and facility, is of paramount importance. The structure thus far described, for the most part, is old and no invention is claimed therein, eXcepting only insofar as these features cooperate with the features new to be described. It has been deemed advisable, however, to de scribe the same in this much detail, in order that the features of my invention may be fully appreciated. The features of my invention which I will now describe cut down the time required to fix a mill from a matter of a day or so to a matter of a few minutes.

According to my invention, a top plate 32 is provided having a pair of sockets 33 formed therein for the reception of the upper ends of the guides 24 and 25. This plate is arranged to be bolted, as at 34, onto the top piece of a frame 36 mounted on the head 4 and extending upwardly therefrom within the jacket 7, as indicated in Fig. 1. The top plate 32, when bolted in place, closes a handhole 37 provided in the top piece 35. The latter, it will be observed in Fig. 2, is of such size and form that the cross-head 18 can l e passed therethrough by raising the same off the upper ends of its guides, and, of course, the other parts, such as the pitman rods 21 and the guides 24 and 25, can be removed through this same hole.

In order easily to disconnect the cross-head 18 from the pitman rods 21 and also unfastcn the guides 24 and 25, I have provided the frame 36 in two parts mounted in opposite sides of the head, thus leaving a good sized opening therebetween to afford access to the parts referred to. The frame pieces 36 are themselves of skeleton form and thus afford still better access to the working parts. The jacket 7 is arranged to be easily removed when it is necessary to get into the head for the purpose ust mentioned or for the purpose of renewing the oil. For this reason the jacket is made in two parts 7a and 7-b, as shown in Fig. 2, arranged to be brought into position from opposite sides of the head so that the edges of the part 7a are made to enter recesses 51 formed on the other part 7?) by bending the edges of the latter as shown. This interfitting of the two parts 7 a and 7-Z) of the acket under the flange 38 of the top piece gives a weather-tight enclosure, so that there is little danger of contamination of the oil. Bolts 52 passed through cleats 53 serve to hold the two parts of thejackettogether. Itis,of course, a simple matter to remove four bolts in order to permit removal of the acket, and after that is done, and the four bolts 34, which fasten the top plate 32, are also removed, it takes very little time for anyone familiar with the mill to 'nsoe eoo -may show evidence of wear.

Now the (fact that the guides 7 n u b J g have consid'erable side thrust "transmitted thereto in the operation of the cross-hea 18 by the pitman rods 21, necessitates rigid 1 port for the top plate 32 if the millto op crate smoothly and quietly. Thus, while the frame 36 is of light constructioinas above described, the same is made very'rigidhy three brace rods 39,40'and41 whichextend-from the frame86 to-the head 4 and its extension 5. The rods 39and 40 are passed through lugs 42 provided onthe bottom of the head at one side thereof upwardly in convergingrelation through lugs 43 provided on the top piece 35, tubes 44 beinmprovided between the lugs 42 and 43 about the rods-39 and 40, so that when-the nuts45 onthe ends-ofthe rods are tightened, this side of the frame 36 will be'made rigid withthe head. lit will be noted thatthe rods 39 and 40 are disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the guides 24 and 25. These rods are, therefore, arranged to assume the sidethrust incident :to the operation of the cross-head 18on the guides. Thebrace rod 41'is sinnlarly extended through a lug 46 provided on the extension 5 of the head 4 upwardly at an acute angle to the vertical through "another lug 47 provided on the top piece 35-of the frame 86, and atube 48 is provided between the lugs 46 and 47 so that when the nuts 49 on the ends of the rod 41 are tightened, this side of the frame 36 is made rigid with the head similarly as the other side. he'rod 41, it will be observed, is disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the vane 13. The upper endofthe pintle for'the latter is supported by the top piece 35at 50 on the opposite side from the brace rod 41, Thus, the rod 41 assumes a large part of the load imposed onthe frame'36 by the vane 13 and keeps the framefrom sagging under this load andthereby interfering with the easy operation of the cross-headby reason ofmisalignment of the guides which would be caused by the sagging of the frame.

The-invention is covered in the appended claims in such a way as to embrace all is timate 'inodifications :and adaptations which are bound'to occur to one skilled'in thisart as a result of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. In a Windmill head, comprising a-substantially vertical guide rod, and a crosshead reciprocable on said guide rod construoted to operate a plunger rod,'an extensionon said head reaching upwardly about the guide rod, and a top plate removably secured on top of the extension and providing support for the upper end of the guide rod, said top plate serving to cover a hand-hole provided in the top of said extension through and 25 which the cross-head is arranged to be removed and replaced.

2. In a windmill head, comprising a pair of parallel guide rods disposed 1n a substantially vertical position on the head and arranged to be raised therefrom for removal, and cross-head reciprocable vertically on the guide rods and constructed to operate a plunger rod, a frame extension reaching. upwardly about the guide rods, and a top plate removably secured on top of the frame and provided with sockets for detachable engagement therein of the upper ends of the guide rods fortheirsupport, said top plate serving to cover a hand-hole provided in the top-of the frame through which the cross head andthe guide rods are removable and replaceable.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein'the extension is aframe set in a recess provided therefor in-the mill head, and including means extending between the top portion of the frame and the mill head for fastening the frame down onto the head.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the extension is a frame: set in a re cess provided therefor in the mill head, and including means extending between-the top portion of the frame and'the mill head for fastening the frame down onto the head, 1.

the said means comprising brace rods extending upwardly from the head at an acute angle to the vertical to the top portion whereby to support the frame against the lateral stresses transmitted to the cross-head guide rod in the operation of the mill.

5. Astructure as set forth in claim 2 ineluding a pair of brace rods extending upwardly from the head at an acute angle to the verticalto the'top portion of the frame Xtension, the same being disposed in aplane substantially parallel with the plane of the guide rods whereby to assume the side thrust on the rods incident to the operation of'the cross-head thereon.

6. A structure as set forth in =claim l including a support on one side of thetop portion of the extension for a vertical pintle carrying the windmill vane, and a brace rod on the opposite side of the top portion 'QX- tending upwardly from the head at an acute angle to the vertical to the top portion, the same being disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the pintle and vane.

7.- In a windmill lIGELCLCOHIPIISlDg a pair of parallel cross-head guides disposed vertically on the head, one of said guides being tubular and constituting an oil pump cylinder, an oil pump plunger operating in said tubular guide,.the same having a cross pin in the upper end thereof projecting through a longitudinal slot provided therefor in the .wallofthetubular guide,and a cross-head reciprocable on the guides, the same being constructed for operatinga plunger rod and arranged to engage the cross pin on the upstrokes thereof to raise the oil plunger, a frame portion on the head reaching upwardly about the cross-head guides, and a top 1 plate removably secured on top of the frame,

the same having sockets therein for detachably receiving the upper ends of the guides, said top plate being arranged normally to cover the handhole in the top of the frame, at least the cross-head and the oil pump plunger being arranged for removal through said hand-hole.

8. In a windmill head, comprising a pair of parallel cross head guides disposed tically on the head, one of said guides being tubular and constituting an oil pump cylinder, an oil pump plunger operating in said tubular guide, the same having a cross pin in the upper end thereof projecting tl'irough a longitudinal slot provided therefor in the wall of the tubular guide, and a cross-head reciprocable on the guides, the same being constructed for operating a plunger rod and arranged to engage the cross pin on the upstrokes thereof to raise the oil pump plunger, a frame portion on the head reaching upwardly about the cross-head guides, a coiled compression spring fitting about the upper end of the tubular aide and bearing at its lower end on top of the cross pin whereby normally to tend to move the oil pump plunger downwardly, and a top plate removably secured on top of the frame, the same having sockets therein for detachably receiving the upper ends of the guides, said top plate serving also as an abutment for the upper end of the coiled compression spring and being arranged normally to cover the hand-hole in the top of the frame, at least the cross-head and the oil pump plunger and its compression spring being arranged for removal through said hand-hole.

9. In a structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the frame is an enclosure and has extension openings on the sides for access to the working parts mentioned, and has a top portion provided with an outwardly directed marginal flange, a jacket fitting removably about the extension between the head proper and top portion and under the aforesaid flange.

10. In a windmill head, comprising a wind wheel shaft, and pump gearing on said head driven by said shaft and constructed to operate plunger rod, a frame serving as an enclosure for the pump gearing reaching upwardly from the head, the top of said frame constituting a permanent protective canopy for the pump gearing but said frame being open on the sides to afford access to the pump gearing, and a jacket removably enclosing the sides of said frame, said jacket cooperating with the top of said frame to completely enclose the pump gearing.

11. A structure as set forth in claim 10 ineluding a plate removably mounted on top of said frame, said plate constituting a top support for a part associated with the pump gearing and serving also to close an opening in the top of the frame large enough to permit removal therethrough of parts of the pump gearing.

12. In a Windmill, a head comprising a substantially vertical guide rod and a crosshead reciprocable on said rod constructed to operate a plunger rod, a skeleton frame projecting upwardly from the head about the guide rod, a closed top for said frame serving as a permanent protective canopy for the aforesaid working parts of the head, a plate removably secured on the top of said frame and providing support for the upper end of the guide rod, said plate serving to cover a hand hole in the top of said frame through which the cross-head is arranged to be removed and replaced when desired, said frame being open on the sides to afford access to the working parts, and a removable jacket serving to enclose the skeleton frame from the sides between the head proper and the top of said frame, the same cooperating with the top of said frame to completely enclose the working parts.

13. In a windmill, a head comprising a wind wheel shaft, and pump gearing on said head driven by said shaft and constructed to operate a plunger rod, a skeleton frame reaching upwardly from the head about the pump gear, the same being open on the sides to alford easy access to the pump gearing, a closed top for said frame constituting a permanent protective canopy for the pump gearing, a removable jacket enclosing the sides of the skeleton frame between the top and the head, said jacket cooperating with the top to completely enclose the pump gearing, a rearward extension provided on the head proper, a rearward extension provided on the top in vertical alignment with the other extension, a pintle supported at its lower end on the first extension and at its upper end on the second extension in laterally spaced relation to the jacket whereby to permit removal and replacement of the latter, and a vane carried on the pintle.

14;. A structure as set forth in claim 13 including a brace rod on the opposite side of the head from the pintle extending upwardly from the head at an acute angle to the vertical to the top of the skeleton frame, the same being disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the pintle and vane.

In witness of the foregoing I my signature.

FRANK J. HALLER.

CER'IIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,806,900. Granted May 26, 1931, to

FRANK J. HALLER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 2, claim 7,

after "oil" insert the word pump; same page, tine 43, claim 9, for the numeral 2 read 1; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of July, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

